I think it’s because they know Xmas etc is a time with lots of mingling so they’re going to wait for that period to be over. All borders in Oz will be open, Australia will go 28 days without cases and NZ still won’t open at the 28 day mark. That’s how I see it playing out. I really don’t think NSW hotel quarantine worker should count against the entire country when NZ had the November border cluster and nothing much changed. WFH for a day or something. The all of Australia approach is ridiculous. A case in NSW should not affect travel to Perth for example. Hence NZ should have gone state by state months ago.
I saw something about a timeline being publicly announced before Xmas but think that was with regards to the Cook Islands Which is crazy, there’s more work to do there than there is for a bubble to Oz. Both need to happen but I’m still in disbelief at NZs approach or lack of to the Tasman bubble.
I hope everyone from Oz entering NZ requesting an exemption is getting one. Mixing Aussie travellers with other high risk travellers in MIQ hotels doesn’t thrill me either. At least WA allows home quarantine for very low risk areas. MIQ has better uses than quarantine for Oz travellers. I hear horticulture needs the space. What about international students etc.
Airports and airlines are ready to go I’m sure, it’s the govt that’s the hold up. Ardern apparently doesn’t like the fact some states like NSW will aim to stay open if there’s an outbreak somewhere or the hotspot approach from the NT and QLD. Also mentioned in an article about wastewater testing which 99.9% of the time represents a persistent shedder. She should know that by now. Also unhappy at the definition of a hotspot by Feds. Really scraping for reasons not to open. NZ doesn’t have land borders to contend with so they literally just have the airports, and at least they’re international ones so a much easier operation.
Even when the border does open, for me it will be an anticlimax. Like someone saying happy birthday when your birthday was 4 months ago.
I just can’t see the logic, science or progress on this issue.